Lee Jae-myung's First Step as President: The Significance of Visiting National Assembly Cleaners and Security Workers

Future of the nation, start of governance, preview of values

The Future and Beginning of the Nation

The future of a nation can often be glimpsed from its beginnings. The inauguration of a government is not merely a ritual of power transfer but a condensed narrative of the philosophy that will govern the nation moving forward, as well as a preview of the values that the community should aspire to. On June 4, 2025, the new president of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, first sought out the cleaning workers and security staff of the National Assembly to extend a handshake of gratitude immediately after his inauguration ceremony. His first steps, begun without formality, were quiet, yet their significance conveyed a resonance that was clear and profound.

Meaningful first steps

This scene was not a one-time gesture or a political event. Before the rhetoric on the podium, the direction of his steps was towards the lowest and often unseen parts of our society. The first greeting he extended to the cleaning workers and security personnel—who are usually unrecognized but sustain the daily life of the community—marked the starting point of his presidency and symbolically revealed the direction in which this country will move forward. The orientation of his body was a declaration of political values through actions rather than words. It was a vow to first look back at the foundations of the community from the pinnacle of power, marking the first step towards the restoration of communal ethics in the pursuit of justice and solidarity.

Politics That Speak Through Actions

We have lived for a long time amidst an excess of political rhetoric. While there has been no shortage of grandiloquent phrases, the points these words reach have generally been within the confines of established power. The realities of countless marginalized individuals have always remained outside that language. In such an era, the fact that the president's initial steps began not with words but with 'the direction of the body' signifies a transformation that goes beyond mere symbolism. It was a more honest expression than words and a deeper expression of sincerity than images.

Symbolic Scenes of Memory and Relationship

Some may interpret this scene as a political staging. However, within that scene was the intertwined memory and relationship of one person. In 2023, when Lee Jae-myung was on a hunger strike, cleaning worker Choi Seong-ja was by his side. It was a way of repaying that kindness now that he has become president. 'I will ensure that such things do not happen in the future.' This short statement was not just a simple consolation, but a historic promise not to repeat the wounds of an era. It was a small but unforgettable moment, showing how far a nation's memory can reach.

The dignity and daily life of the community

The dignity of a community is revealed in how it treats its most vulnerable members. We cannot help but ask, who has been the first to reach out in South Korean politics? Was it the interests of conglomerates, or the positions of power institutions? In contrast, President Lee Jae-myung's first greeting is a clear declaration of change. It is a pledge that the priorities of the community must shift, and that the direction of politics will be renewed. The direction his eyes are focused on, and the target of his reach, pose the question of where the nation should head. It is no different from the declaration that 'now we start from the bottom.'

Politics: The Art and Symbolism

Politics is a technology of reality and a process that requires the consent of the majority. However, at the same time, politics is also a work that opens up the imagination of the community as a 'language of symbols.' The first step of the president is not just a one-day endeavor. It is a starting point that reflects the philosophy and sensibility of the overall governance that will unfold in the future. From the weakest points of society, we are now observing together the trajectory of how governance can envision a certain future.

The Philosophy of Beginning and Community

The president's first step poses a question to all of us. Where do we define the beginning of our community? Who are the ones we should remember first and extend our hands to? In an era where a personalized life makes the term 'nation' feel like an outdated phrase, reflecting on the meaning of 'living together' should begin with the philosophy of those in power.

From Vertical Power to Horizontal Solidarity

The state is not just an organization but a direction. And direction ultimately starts with 'who do we look at first?' When the one at the top looks down at the very bottom, we can imagine a community of horizontal solidarity rather than a landscape of vertical power. In June 2025, we saw the most humane vision of the future that this society can head towards in the quiet footsteps of a president. We must ensure that this beginning does not simply fade away as a day's news, and that those low and steady steps become the continuous direction for the entire community, which we must watch and respond to together.

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